Base-exchange water softener and filter



Feb. 26, 1929. L 1,703,451

C. T. M GILL BASE EXCHANGE WATER SOFTENER AND FILTER Flled Apr ll 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 000006 00000 00000 00000 000000 000000 000000 0000000 00000000000009 000000000000000 0000000000'000000000 0000000000000000000 0000000Q0 00000000 0000000 00 000000 oooocmQo 0000000 00000000 0 0 000 ooooooooooooaooo oooooooooooeeoeco 00000000000 000000 dill Feb 26, 1929.

C. T. M GILL BASE EXCHANGE WATER SOFTENER AND FILTER '2 Shb'ets-Stieet 2 I Filed April 3, 1926 OOOOOOOQQOOQOOOOY 00000000000000 OOOOOQQOGOGOO Patented Feb. 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATEN T1011, 0]? ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION" 01' ILLINOIS. I

BAsE-EXOHANGEMA TER sorrnnnza AND r'ni'rna,

Application filed A rii a, 1920. Serial m. 99,610.

This invention relates to improved means and methods for filtering the raw water supply beforepassing into a base exchange softener, thereb furnishing clear, clean water freed from t e suspended matter.

After the Water has been softened it passes into a filter removed from the softener and softened water is filtered by suitable means before passing into the surface lines. The object of this procedure is. to maintain the soft Water free from any impurities that may get to the Water softener-through reclaiming 0r regenerating the mineral with a sodium chloride solution or otherwise.

In this invention, thefilter means is arranged in combination with the water softener in such a manner as to be located at a suitable distance therefrom providing the filtering of theraw water and the filtering of the softened water in combination with a salt An object of this invention is to provide a means in combination with the base exchange water softener whereby the raw water may be filtered in the bottompor'tion of the salt pot attachment and carried down from the salt pot to the bottom of the base exchange water space softener.

In this invention, furthermore, means are provided so that the filtering material may be back-washed without disturbing the operation of the softener at intervals which is found necessary in order to eliminate the accumulation or the breeding of bacteria.

A further object of this invention is to provide-a suitable filterwithin the salt pot'ar ranged to accommodate the salt which is required to regenerate the mineral, and after the base exchange mineral'is regenerated and the softener put in service, it is also to retain any of the fine mineral which otherwise might be carried outinto the soft water into the service lines. .i n a 1 In this invention, any fine exchange mineral is filtered in the to portion of'the filter and salt pot, thereby urnishing soft-water without any zeolite mineralcontained therein andtherefore without wasting any of this mineral. L

A prime ob'ect of this invention, is therefore to provi e means for back-washing the.

filtering material 'without interfering with the softening -process or of necessitating the regenerating at thetin etlge filteringmaterial vis back-washed, and further providea means for back-washing the filtering-material which separates the suspended material from the raw water, and the fact that this filtering material is back-washed :once a Week, eliminates the danger of any bacteria ac .cumulatingandcarried to'the softening material andhence up into the soft water lines.

- Further objects of this invention will ap I pear from the following detailed description" Fig. 2, represents a plan view of a form of filtering material. Q

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a perforated plate,

adapted to support the zeolite mineralmate- T; o FicE.

CHESTER T, McGILL, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ELGIN SOFTENER CORPORA- rial and to distribute the water passed through the mineral material.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a solid plate adapted to be located in the salt pdt. Fig. 5 represents a vertical sectional view of a modified form ofa base exchange water softener and filter arrangement.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a filter material adapted for use in a modified form of this invention disclosed: in Fig. 5.

Fig.7 is a plan view. of a perforated plate adapted for use n the modified. form of base exchange water softener and filter disclosed "in Fig. 5. T"

Fig. 8 represents. a plan view of a solid plate welded as'desired, in the salt pot shown in the modified form of base exchange water 1 I 95 Numeral 1' indicates a water'softenin tank softener and filter.

adapted to contain a suitable base exc ange material 2, consisting of any material which for softeningpurposes which is adapted to enter the tank .1 through the pipe line 4.

Above'the receiving space 3 in the lower portion of the tank 1- is'located a perforated plate 5, which plateior plates, are a apted to support the zeolitelmineral 2, and also tomay be properly adapted for base exchange I purposes, a lower portion ofthe tank 1 is properly distribute the water up through the mineral. The perforations in the plate 5 may be of any suitable number for acco1nplishing the purpose. j

The zeolite material 2 extends above the plate 5 within the tank 1 to a distance sufficient for allowing a free board 6 space, above the normal top bed of mineral and the soft water outlet. I

Properly leading from the free board space 6, of the tank 1, is a pipe line 7 adapted to connect with a fill nozzle 8 having a cap por tion 9 located and connected with a salt pot device 15, which is adapted to receive the salt for regenerating and when in operation, also receives any fine mineral which otherwise would be carried away with the softened wa- 'ter.

' Within the salt pot 15 is suitably located a filtering material 11, and a solid plate 12, adapted to be permanently welded or otherwise suitably attached in the salt pot 15 between the top filtering material 11 and the bottom material 13, which material is located at the bottom of the salt pot for the prime purpose of allowing the raw water to pass therethrough. Between filtering material 13 and the solid plate 12. of the salt pot portion 10 is adapted to be located a water space 1 1.

In combination with the tank 1 and the salt pot attachment 15, and in operation thereof, valves 16, 17 and 18 are open, then valves 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 2 1, are closed. This arrangement and position of valves will allow the water to pass from the raw water supply line 25 through the valve 17 into the water space 14: within the salt pot 15, down through the filter screen or other suitable material 13 in to the line 26, which leads from the bottom of the salt pot filter arrangement 15, and hence to the line 27 and 4. That portion of the water which is desired to be filtered but not softened passes up through line 27, valve 18 and into the filtered water line 28. That portion of the water required for softening passes through the line 1 into the-space 3 through the perforated plate 5 up through the top connecting element 7 to the salt pot 15,

down through a space 10 which space 10 retains the fine mineral carried from the water softener with the soft water, the water then passes through the filtering screen or material 11' through the valve 16 into the soft water line 29.

Inthe backswashing of the filtering material which filters the raw water, the followingprocedure in the use of this device is set forthi To relieve the filter of suspended and vege table matt'er,valve 22'is opened and valve 17 closed, then valve 24 is open which allows a flow of raw water. down through valve 18 in line 2'7 up through line. 26, through the filter-I ing material or screen 13, back-washing the; liquid through valve 24: to the drain 30.

in operation,

mos lei After the reversed current has cleansed the filtering material or the screen 13 in the salt pot 15, valves arena 22 are closed and valves 17 opened and the filtering portion is again filtering the water before it enters the base exchange softener 1.

It will be apparent that during the period of back-washing the filtering screen or material 13, which should be done in the average household or-otherwise about once a week, the softener 1 and the filter water line 28, is supplied with unfiltered raw water.

. In the regeneration and operation as provided in this invention, the following procedure is set forth When the base exchange mineral becomesexhausted and needs reclaiming by sodium chloride or other regenerating chemicals, open valves 19, and 22, close valves 16, 17 and 18, and open valves 21 and 23. Remove cap 9 from the fill nozzle 8. As soon as enough water has been drained out of the'salt pot filter arrangement 15 from the space 10, close valves 21 and 23. Then insert salt through the fill nozzle 8. Replace cap9. Open valve 20 about one-halfturn. Open Valve 16 which will admit raw Water through the filtering material or filtering screen 11, dissolving the salt and carrying the solution through the top portion of the fill nozzle 8 through the connecting element 7 into the top portion of tlie softener 1. This will allow thecarrying of the brine solution from salt pot to softener at the rate of one to two gallons of water per minute thereby regenerating and reclaiming the zeolite mineral to its full capacity and carrying the hardness to the drain 30. It will require from 20 to 30 tion after which valves 20 and 16 are closed. Valves 17, 23 and 18 are opened and valve 22 closed, thereby permitting the raw water to minutes for this operaenter through the valve 17 down through the l filtering material 13, connecting elements 26 and-4, up through the filtering material 2 and from the. softening tank 1 to the salt pot filter arrangement 15 out through valve 23 to the 'dra1n30.

As soon as the water becomes soft at the drain 30, the softener is ready to be put into operation. Close Valve. 23, open valve 16, close valve 19 and the softener is again in service. The connection to the top portion of the fill nozzle 8 leading-to valve 21 is for the purpose of draining 03 any scum or sediment which is carried to the softener in brining with salt. The filter material 11 of this invention may be 'llO substituted by the use of gravel, quartz, and sand by merely lengthening the salt pot filter arrangement as disclosed in 31 of Figure 5.

The gravel, quartz and sand in this modified I form are designated by numerals 32, 33, and 34:. The substitution of sand, quartz, and gravel as filtering material under this construction would operate identically the same as operating instructions pertaining to filterter before it flows into the base exchange by accommodating a large amount-of base.

exchange material and hence increasing the softening capacity to such anextent that a softener does not have to be regenerated oftener than once every sixty or ninety days and in many cases longer.

' Furthermore, in operation, this invention provides a means for keeping the. mineral clean and free from packing-effects, inasmuch as there would be no back pressureapreciably of the mineral, thereby greatlyproonging the life, and utility of the base, exchange mineral. j

In addition, a'prime advantage of this invention is, that backwashing may be accomplished both downward and upward at the same time, for it is apparent that after the salt'has been added, the flow of liquid or J brine solution has been downward from 20 to 30 minutes, valves Nos. 16, 17 and 20'are closed; valves 22 and 24 are open wide; valves 21 open partially; this allows waterunder pressure to enter from line 27 to lines 4 and 26, thereby flushing the filteringmaterial 13, carrying the suspended and bacteria matter through valve 24 to drain 30, at the same time carrying a portion of the water through base exchange mineral 2, thereby removing any remaining solids or suspended matter through connecting element 7 to salt *pot fill nozzle 8, thence to line leading to Valve 21 i and to drain 30. This removes in addition to the brine solution, any scum or sediment that is carried to the softener with the salt.

What I-claim. is:

1. The combination with a base exchange water softening tank, a salt pot connected thereto, meansfor filtering raw water 1n the salt pot before passing into the tank and].

means for filtering softened water from the tank in -the salt pot.

2. The combination with abase exchange pass ng water softener and tank, of a salt pot device,

in open communication therewith, of means within the salt pot for filtering the 'raw watank, and of means within thesalt pot for filtering the soft water as it comes from the tank, the lastname'd filtermeans being adapted to support'the salt whichis required to re- Y generate the base exchange) I .3. The combination with a base exchange 'watersoftener and tank, of a salt pot device.

. water softening inaop en communicationtherewitli, of means within the salt pot for filtering the raw water .before' it flows into the base exchange tank, and of means within the salt pot-for filtering the soft water as it comes fromthe tank, and means. for flushing the suspended filtered matter to the drain between regenerating periods.

4. The combination with a base exchange water softener and tank of a salt potdevice in open communication therewith, of means. within the salt pot for filtering the rawwater before it flows into the base exchange tank, and of meansiwithin the salt pot for filtering the soft water: as it comes from the tank, the arrangement of parts being such that-the fines of the exchange material carried back. from the salt pot with the bride solution during regenerating periods.

5. The combination in a base exchange water softener, of a tank, of a sa ltpot devicein open communication therewith, of means within the salt pot forlfiltering the'raw water before it flows. through the (base exchange 1 material, and of means within the salt pot for filtering the soft water as it comes from the tank, of means for backwashing a portion of the filtermaterials and the base exchange mineral simultaneously.

6. The combination in a base exchange watersoftener, of a tank, of a salt pot device in 0 en communication therewith of means ing filtered unsoftened water, of means wit in the salt pot for filtering the soft wateras;

it comes from the tank, of means for backwashing the filtering materials'and the base exchangelmineral simultaneously, consisting of water. chambers within'the salt otffor' back-washing thefilter screens, an water chambers within the tank for receiving the water for backwashing the mineral simultaeously with the backwashing of the filter material in thesalt pot.

-7 In combination with a base exchange water softening tank, a salt pot connected 'thereto,'means for filtering raw water in the into thetank and -'means for filtering so ened water 7 from the tank into the salt pot, means or supsalt pct before. passin assing for filtering raw water, of means for suppl ioo plying filtered softened water and filtered unsoftened water at the same time.

i 8. In combination with a base-exchange water softening tank, a saltpot connected thereto, means for filtering raw water in' the salt pot before'passin into the tank and means for filter ng so tened water passing from the tank into the salt pot, means forbackwashing thefilter between regenerating.

periods without passing the wash water through-the base exchange material.

9. In combination with a base exchange 3 thereto, means salt pot before. passing .into the tanknnd,

tank,,a salt potconnected I or filterin raw water in the";

' open eommunieation therewith, means within the salt pot for filtering raw water, sotteneal means for filtering softened Water passing from the tank into the salt pot, means for backwashing the filter and supplying softenetl Water sii'nultaneou'sly.

1-0. In combination with. a base exchange water softener, a tank, a salt pot device in Water and fine mineral from the so it ater as 111 leaves the softener before entering the servlce llne, means for bacltwashing the raw mower :Water filter While the softener is in opera tion, means for" backwashing the soft water filter at regenerating periods, means for passing the brine solution through thezeolite mineral Without passing the brine solution through the filter material, means for distributing the water to the zeolite mineral, means for eliminating packing and matting of the zeolite mineral.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHESTER T. MGGILL. 

